Aino Nebel
Aino Nebel is an artist and ceramicist living and working in Germany. In her work she visualizes the aesthetics of coming into existence, and the process of change. The objects are fired multiple times, sometimes overheating. Deformations are accepted and desired. Failed objects and broken fragments become embedded as layers of time.
What have you rebelled against in the past, and what are you rebelling against now?
I’m not a rebel. I think that I am a radical person, but not rebellious. I’m longing for silence. I want to do my work, that’s all. That’s a lot.
Do you need to be a rebel to enjoy your work?
No need to be a rebel, no need to be fainthearted.
Do you use your own pieces?
I never made dishes before, and the pieces I made for Steinbeisser are really for special occasions. The plates I use the most are my grandmothers’ stoneware, white with small little blue drops, from the early 20th century.
Do you think dishware can still be improved? If yes, in what way?
A good plate is a good plate. When you see stuff from ages ago, it is really reliable. Still, each period of time has to find its own way and its own expression.
What was the inspiration for your Steinbeisser series?
I tried to find a visual expression for the physical and sensual feeling of well-being: delight and relish. I wanted to connect bed and table, sleeping and eating as essential needs, which get transformed and cultivated as moments of pleasure.
Describe your work in 3 words!
Love. Devotion. Surrender.
What kind of materials do you use and where do you get them from?
I work mainly with porcelain, in whatever condition it comes to my hands. To bring porcelain into a shape, I like to work with supporting materials which burn out while firing. Here I love to use materials which already have a past life, for instance worn clothes of me or withered plants.
What are you working on right now?
Like all times, letting my inner garden grow!
What excites you about tomorrow?
That we never know how it will be.
What has been your favourite dinner experience?
When very good food meets very good conversation – rarely enough!
What further ambitions do you have?
Passing through life without causing too much damage.
Which are your 3 favourite pieces on Jouw…?
The Moment Cutlery and Plates by Joo Hyung Park, and the Little Driftwood Spoon by Stuart Cairns.